Step-ladder



V (NoModeL) 0. M. SWEET.

. STEP LADDER.

No. 388,599. Patented Aug. 28, 1888.

I I" .P

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORANGE M. SWEET, OF SILVER CREEK, ASSIGNOR TO THE EMPIRE MANU- FACTURINGCOMPANY, OF FORESTVILLE, NEW YORK.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,599, dated August28, 1888.

Application filed January 28, 1888. Serial No. 262,220. (No model.)

, To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ORANGE M. SWEET, of Silver Creek, in the county ofChautauqua and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvementin that class of step-ladderswhich are provided with a shelf for supporting a pail or other article,and which can be folded against the body of the ladder with the hingedstandard.

The object of my invention is to provide a strong, durable, andinexpensive connection between the pivoted shelf and the ladder whichwill permit the shelf to be readily folded and unfolded.

The invention consists of the improvements which will be hereinafterfully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the upperportion of a stepladder, showing the shelf in an elevated or unfoldedposition. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an insideelevation, on an enlarged scale, of one of the brackets andsupporting-arms whereby the shelf is attached to the hinged standard.Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of these parts. Fig. 5 is a cross-section inline a; m, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is alongitudinal section in line y y, Fig. 3.Fig. 7 is an inside elevation, on an enlarged scale, of one of thebrackets to which the supporting-arms of the shelf are attached. Fig. 8is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the shelf folded against thestandard. Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation showing a modifiedconstruction of my improved shelf attachment.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

Arepresents the body of the ladder; A, the platform or top step, and Athe standard, hinged to the latter in the usual manner.

B represents the folding shelf, and C are metallic brackets or supportssecured to opposite sides of the standard A, and to which the shelf B ismovably attached. The brackets G are preferably secured to the standardA by a single screw, 0, and are provided at their edges with lips orteats c, which bear against opposite sides of the standard and preventthe brackets from turning on the screws 0.

d represents the arms which support the shelf B, and to which the latteris secured by screws or otherwise.

The supporting-arms d-are provided on their outer sides with horizontalstuds or pivots e, which are arranged in oblique or incli ned slots f,formed in the brackets U. The arms 41 extend rearwardly beyond thepivots e and e11 gage under stops or projections arranged in rear of thepivots 6, whereby the shelf is supported in an elevated or unfoldedposition, as, clearly represented in Fig. 3. The stops orprojections gareformed on extensions 71, formed on the rear side of the brackets O.The inclined slots f are so arranged that their lower ends are in linewith the stops or nearly so, so that the supportingarms 01 will be in ahorizontal position when their pivots rest in the bottom of said slots.The latter are made of such length and inclination that when the pivots6 rest against the upper ends of the slots the rear ends of the arms (1will clear the stops 9, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8, and permitthe shelf to be folded against the standard A to the position shown byfull lines in the same figure. Upon raising the shelf until the sameassumes a horizontal position the rear ends of the arms d strike theupper ends of the stops and in riding over thesame cause the pivots e tomove upward in the inclined slots f. When the pivots reach the up perends of the slots, the rear ends of the arms d will have passeddownwardly beyond the stops 9 and cleared the same, and upon releas.

ing the shelf the weight thereof causes the pivots to move downwardlyand inwardly in the inclined slots, thereby moving the arms (1rearwardly and causing their inner ends to en gage under the stops 9. Inthis manner the shelf is unfolded and automatically locked in positionby simply raising the shelf and then releasing it, the weight of theshelf and the object resting thereon retaining thepivots of thesupporting-arms at the lower ends of the inclined slots. When it isdesired to lower or fold the shelf,the same is slightly raised,wherebythe pivots e and the supporting-arms d are permitting the shelf to swingagainst the standard. The inner ends of the supporting arms dand theadjacent sides of the stops 9 are preferably curved to facilitate themove ment of the arms over the stops in raising the shelf.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 9 the slots are formed in thesupporting-arms and are arranged horizontally and the studs or pivotsare formed on the brackets C. The supportingarms are provided at theirrear ends with hooks or lips t, which engage behind the stops 9 andprevent the arms from being accidentally disengaged from the stops. Thishorizontal arrangement of the slots is not so desirable, however,because, in order to lock the shelf in its elevated position, it must bemoved rearward] y after it has been raised, and the shelf is thereforenot self-locking, like the first-described construction. It is obviousthat in this modified construction the slots may be formed in thebrackets O and the studs or pivots on the shelf-supporting arms, asshown in Figs. 1 to 8.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a step-ladder, the combination, with thehinged standard A and the folding shelf 13, of brackets or supports 0,secured to the standard and provided with stops 9 and shelfsupportingarms 01, pivoted to said brackets and engaging with their rear endsunder the stops 9 of the brackets, whereby the shelf is supported in anelevated position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the standard and a folding shelf, of bracketsor supports 0, secured to the standard and provided with ob lique orinclined slotsf, shelf-supporting arms (I, provided with pivots or studs6, arranged in said slots, and stops g, arranged on said brackets inrear of the pivots e, and with which the rear ends of the supportingarms d engage, substantially as set forth.

WVitness my hand this 5th day of October, 1887.

ORANGE M. SWEET.

XVitnesses:

VVALTER D. HOLT, \VALTER H. O. ENsIGN.

